Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

Is an era completed? In 2009 we moved to Tshaneni (Lubumbo region) after living and ministering for 15 years in the Shiselweni region. Memories still flood my mind when I think of the little mission house (moved in December 1995) that entertained many Swazis, volunteers, friends and missionaries. Our Wolf and Stormie who comprise most of those memories are buried in the garden. When visiting the Nhlangano mission house, I can see them so vividly running through the back door into the house making a “bee-line” for the bed. I can still see the students of Wayne’s TEE classes, our Bible studies and worship services that met in our home since 1996-2009. What has brought on this memory lane of nostalgia? Wayne is in Nhlangano today to meet with someone who is interested in renting the mission house that has been empty since our departure. If they do rent, we will no longer make trips to check on things or leave/retrieve mission equipment. An era will be completed. End of a reign!! BUT, in my heart there will always be memories mostly good when I think of the little mission house in Nhlangano. I also have hopes that the people who rent will come to appreciate the little house as much as we did. Pray for just the right renters to come and stay in the Nhlangano mission house.

Wayne, Todd and 7 pastors attended the meeting on the 8th of March in Phuzumoya to discuss the Swazi Baptist Rural Training Schools. Guests from the South Coast Bible School (Emphangeni, South Africa) were invited to discuss the possibility of Swazi Rural Training Schools partnering with the South Coast Bible School. This will entail SCBS sending a representative once a year to check on the school, Swazi Rural School will have free access to their soft-copy curriculum, our school will be able to choose own speakers and will be autonomous. There are some challenges to this arrangement that include changing the dates of our schools that are scheduled to meet three times instead of four times a year. The Swaziland committee: Todd Hoskins, Pastor Mandla Sigwane and Pastor Sifiso Dlamini have the huge task of working on all logistical decisions for the school such as who will attend, cost, accommodation, speakers and meals. Pray for this committee as they begin their work in preparation for the first Swazi Baptist Rural Training School. The first school will not be in May as scheduled but will be later in the year. Pray as the committee members work to schedule three schools that will not conflict with other scheduled events. May these schools will provide much needed training that will spiritually strengthen our Swazi Baptist churches.

MARCH MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES:
--March 14-17, our Cluster Strategy leader and wife (Wade and DeeAnn Coker) will be in Swaziland visiting the members of the Swazi Team. March 14th they will visit with the Allens, March 15th with the Hoskins and on the 16th with the Myers, leaving on the 17th. Pray the Cokers’ visit with the Swazi Team will be an encouragement to everyone.

--March 19th, the Shiselweni Baptist Association meets at the Velebantfu Baptist Church. The purpose of the meeting is to encourage the Swazi Baptist churches in the Shiselweni region to provide a strong Sunday School program for all ages and to meet faithfully on Sunday for worship. Pray this meeting will be beneficial to all attending.

--The Velebantfu Baptist Church will conduct a licensing service for their pastor, Liswe Nsibandze on the 20th of March. Pastor Nsibandze has led this church for five years and is a strong leader and committed Christian. Pray the members of the Velebantfu Baptist Church will continue to support their pastor as he leads the congregation.

--March 26th the Vuvulane Baptist Church will hosts an outreach youth/children Bible study 9:00-1:00. Pray this event will reach the youth and children in the community that are not attending church as well as encouraging the Vuvulane Baptist youth and children to attend.

--March 30th-April 4th, the members of the Swazi Team will attend the Two Oceans Cluster Strategy Meeting at the Birchwood Conference Center in Johannesburg, South Africa. The First Baptist Church of Orlando, Fla. will provide volunteers to work with the missionary children’s program and lead in worship services. Pray for the continued preparations and logistics. Pray for spiritual preparedness for the missionaries attending, volunteers ministering and leadership leading.

--March 15-16, the IMB Board of Trustees and assigned staff will be meeting in Dallas, Texas. A major focus of the March meeting will be the nomination of Dr. Tom Elliff as the new IMB president. We thank the Lord for His leadership during the selection process. Pray for trustees as they consider Dr. Elliff’s nomination and eventually vote. The board meeting will be immediately followed by the appointment of more than 90 new missionaries at the First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas. Thank the “Lord of harvest” for these new laborers. Pray for them as He prepares them for entry into the harvest fields.

Update on Lisa Warren’s father…I am happy to report that this morning finds my Dad doing much better. God's mercies are amazing, and I am so thankful for each and every prayer lifted! His doctor says that Dad looks like a new man . His blood pressure is back up, and he rested well last night. His cardiac enzymes show he is improving also. Dad is awake and alert, and wants to get up out of bed. It is still too soon to tell the results of Monday's surgery, as they have not introduced food back yet. That will come later this week. Please know just how much each of you mean to me, and how much we appreciate all of your prayers and encouragement ... thank you prayer warriors, all glory and praise to God!!!!

AIDS UPDATE:
Wayne received a message from Mark Hatfield,(BGR-Baptist Global Response) concerning the shipment of In-Home Health Care Kits that are stored in South Africa, waiting for clearance to enter South Africa. This shipment has been sitting in South Africa for quite a while and has cost thousands of American dollars for storage. South Africa refuses to allow the shipment into the country. Mark told Wayne unless the shipment is allowed to enter the country soon, it will have to be sent to Zambia. The Swazi Team was to receive 100 In-Home Health Kits from that shipment. Evidently, there are other items (not the kits) that have hindered its clearance into the country. We are asking our prayer network to please pray the South Africa customs department will have a change of heart and allow the container into the country. Many victims of AIDS and their families will benefit from these kits and ministry. Pray they will not be denied the chance to know that they are loved by caring people and especially the Lord.